Turkey hunting forum for turkey hunting tips

As I am finalizing some plans for the spring, I am torn on a few things. This spring, my dad and I are going to be among several National monuments, Historic places, and other tourist attractions that we likely will never be around again. We're traveling to turkey hunt, but also don't want to waste the opportunity to see some of these things. When going to a new place to hunt, do you take a day or so and see the sites, or is it strictly business until you accomplish what you've gone to accomplish.

I know this is a person to person thing and I know what we'll do, I was just wondering what most of the board says.

First off I have never done this but you mention your father going and I wonder what his physical condition may be? If the hunting may get to him bad I would try to remain an hour or two drive from one of the National monuments, Historic places and maybe plan the third or fourth day as a rest day. I am partially disabled so that is a reason I am thinking that way, pain dictates everything for me. That and the photographer in me would want to snap some photos. :D

It's about the journey, especially with Dad.

My routine is hunt hard until midday, early afternoon. Then it's time to eat and explore. Later, eat some dinner and go roost one for the next morning. Always make your hunts enjoyable whether they be in-state or traveling.

Been within a few miles drive of a couple on a trip SD.  didn't go on purpose - to give me a reason to go back.  I may regret not going when I was there, but I guess only time will tell.  Sure hope to get back up there one day.

Definitely site see.

My first trip to the black hills my wife (at the time) went with me. We took a day to see the sites. I tagged out early and we saw even more sites. But you need to do those things too.

I say that, as most of my hunts are now all hunting and I don't take time to go see stuff. But it's just me, usually. So I hunt. And if I tag out, before moving on, I'll site see.

But you need to plan on a day to do this. It'll be worth it regardless of where you go.

IMHO sightseeing on out of state hunts is part of the draw for going on them.  I have enjoyed every out of state hunt I have ever been on, even if the hunting was not particularly good because of the sightseeing and experiences that weren't hunting related.

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Quote from: guesswho on February 28, 2023, 04:17:21 PM
It's about the journey, especially with Dad.

Big x 2.  Hunting with Dad is fun but take every opportunity to share all you can.  You never know when it will be your last hunt or trip.  I certainly did not know with my dad.

It's not all about the kill, it's about doing both and making memories that last forever ... IMO ... Enjoy your time with your dad ...

My suggestion would be to discuss it, set your priorities, and proceed from there, Blake.  If you and your dad are both in agreement that you want to take time to take in some attractions on your trip, allot extra time for that and go for it. 

For me personally, when I go huntin', I am goin' huntin' as my first priority.  That only changes if I have fulfilled my hunting goals and have time for other stuff.  My theory is that I get to turkey hunt roughly a month out of the year.  Doing my guzintas, I think that means I have roughly 11 other months in the year to do the non-huntin' stuff.  I try to "vet" my hunting accomplices from my friends that feel the same way. 

For me, there is nothing more agonizing than being stuck with a I-wanna-see-the-sights buddy somewhere while I am sitting there thinking about being in the turkey woods.  I know for a fact that right at that time, while I am stuck looking at some purty sight, there would be a gobbling, strutting gobbler sprinting towards my calling if I was out in those woods.   :D ::)

The only exception for the above is when my wife is with me and tells me we are going to go see that purty sight because she wants to go!  In those cases, I just put my foot down and say,........ 
..."Yes, Dear".   :angel9:

Gobblenut Is percent correct!!! Priorities!!!

Have a good one, Bo

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Hunt hard but enjoy some sights as well!! Enjoy your time together!!

Go take care of business and then enjoy the reminder of your trip to do whatever. Plan it long enough you should have no issue doing both, but prioritize what feels right at the time, in the moment.

Your not torn, you answered the question when you said you don't want to waste the opportunity and I completely agree with you on that. There's time for the field and monuments too. And remember you've already accomplished something very important by booking the trip. Congratulations on making a good decision to spend time with your father no matter what it might entail.

I'd let him decide the itinerary for the trip. Hunt and sight see if that's want he wants to do, and make every opportunity count. You only have one dad so appreciate the time together as you may never get this opportunity again. Like others have stated, "It's not always about the kill but the journey and memories you create".

 We hunt hard, only sightseeing if tagged out...

What Gobblenut said!!!

Quote from: GobbleNut on February 28, 2023, 07:25:07 PM
The only exception for the above is when my wife is with me and tells me we are going to go see that purty sight because she wants to go!  In those cases, I just put my foot down and say,........ 
..."Yes, Dear".   :angel9:

I see by Gobblenuts post that he wears the pants in that relationship and he has his wife's permission to say so!
Gobblenut has his priorities  straight. Happy wife. Happy life!

As someone who has hunted in a little over 30 states for spring turkey. I can say without a doubt stop and do the sightseeing. What's the rush? Who knows when you'll be back in that area ?

If you ever hunt Hawaii are you planning on strictly turkey hunting or will you take in local sights and eat the local cuisine as well?
If you answered the latter to that, then why would your response be any different in say North Carolina or Missouri?

For awhile I blew by scenic attractions in far away places, but nope not anymore.

We live in a big beautiful country and life is short, we can't do it all but might as well try to.

Unfortunately with the time being a constraining factor, and me being completely alone. It's more like a job than a vacation. I don't sight see much while hunting. Shouldn't be that way... but it is

The only sights I plan to see on my trips are on the top of my barrel. There 's plenty of cool things to see while sneaking through the woods. I don't need to dedicate time to go site seeing as they are all around me as soon as step out of the truck.

Quote from: GobbleNut on February 28, 2023, 07:25:07 PM
My suggestion would be to discuss it

Really this is all that matters right here. Honest communication and agreement. I'm headed to the Keys with my sons and I wanted to book a full day offshore charter but my sons are less gung-ho, so we settled on half day inshore.

Quote from: Turkeybutt on March 01, 2023, 03:23:52 AM
You only have one dad so appreciate the time together as you may never get this opportunity again.

Truer words have rarely been spoken. I lost my father two summers back and we never did take that out of state trip we always talked about. His reasoning for not joining me in my travels was the cost even when I would offer to pay, because he could shoot two turkeys in his home state for $20. I'd give any amount of money to be able to bring him back and take those trips right now.

You don't know what the future holds. Soak it up, live in the moment, and praise the Lord for blessing us with each and everyday in the woods he allows.

Thanks for the kind words everyone. Dad and I are best friends, been that way my whole life. We've been moving around turkey hunting for years but this will be our furthest venture from home and we are both looking forward to it. I'm 32 and he's 52 and we're both in pretty good shape and I hope and pray, God willing, that we have many more springs together. We're looking forward to the turkey hunting and the site seeing alike. We're going to make time for both and just enjoy it. Good luck to everyone this spring and God bless.

Defnitely take some afternoon time to see the sights.  Who knows when, or if, you'll get back that way.  I drove an hour to see Mt. Rushmore a couple of years ago and made a point to visit an historic site with my down time in FL last year.  It's worth missing a nap or two.

Definitely make the sights a priority along the way! Take lots of pictures.


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Quote from: blake_08 on March 01, 2023, 05:07:24 PM
Thanks for the kind words everyone. Dad and I are best friends, been that way my whole life. We've been moving around turkey hunting for years but this will be our furthest venture from home and we are both looking forward to it. I'm 32 and he's 52 and we're both in pretty good shape and I hope and pray, God willing, that we have many more springs together. We're looking forward to the turkey hunting and the site seeing alike. We're going to make time for both and just enjoy it. Good luck to everyone this spring and God bless.

Oh jeepers, I am old enough to have a 32 year old son? Where's the Geritol and the rocking chair? Man my brain still thinks I am sixteen.

 To the OP, great question! I am a solo hunter but have a son that doesn't have the desire to hunt as I. He will fish occasionally, we went to NY to hit the Brown trout run a couple years ago. We had a good time and caught some fish, I did not press the issue. We fished at my son's will I should say.

We left our fishing area one evening and rode over to check another spot. After checking it out we returned to our hotel.

About two years later we were talking about the trip and he said he would have liked to seen Niagara Falls. We were within a couple miles and I had never even give it a thought...

Point being, yes, have the discussion. Have an awesome time and enjoy each other. Do what you guys decide to do together.

The reason I had the miss with my son is because I am used to doing business. If I go to hunt, I hunt. If I go to fish, I fish. Only site seeing I have done is seeing a CSI investigation at my motel in Florida and a car rim dinosaur in Oklahoma "Which was really cool". Other wise as stated, my sites are in the woods or water.

I have a certain cousin whom I turkey hunt with and it's taken 36 hours to make a 10 hour drive more than once
Enjoy your selves because you will never have that time again.